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After building up an intense live reputation and a rabid fan base, Siouxsie and the Banshees almost had to debut with a stunner -- which they did, "Hong Kong Garden" taking care of things on the singles front and The Scream on the full-length. Matched with a downright creepy cover and a fair enough early producing effort from Steve Lillywhite -- well before he found gated drum sounds -- it's a fine balance of the early band's talents. Siouxsie Sioux herself shows the distinct, commanding voice and lyrical meditations on fractured lives and situations that would win her well-deserved attention over the years. Compared to the unfocused general subject matter of most of the band's peers, songs like "Jigsaw Feeling," "Suburban Relapse," and especially the barbed contempt of "Mirage" are perfect miniature portraits. John McKay's metallic (but not metal) guitar parts, riffs that never quite resolve into conventional melodies, and the throbbing Steven Severin/Kenny Morris rhythm section distill the Velvet Underground's early propulsion into a crisper punch with more than a hint of glam's tribal rumble. The sheer variety on the album alone is impressive -- "Overground" and its slow-rising build, carefully emphasizing space in between McKay's notes as much as the notes themselves, the death-march Teutonic stomp of "Metal Postcard," the sudden near-sunniness of the music (down to the handclaps!) toward the end of "Carcass." The cover of "Helter Skelter" makes for an unexpected nod to the past -- if it's not as completely overdriven as the original, Siouxsie puts her own definite stamp on it and its sudden conclusion is a great moment of drama. It's the concluding "Switch" that fully demonstrates just how solid the band was then, with McKay's saxophone adding just enough of a droning wild card to the multi-part theatricality of the piece, Siouxsie in particularly fine voice on top of it all.
© Ned Raggett /TiVo
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Kenny Morris, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, Producer, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kenny Morris, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, Producer, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kenny Morris, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, Producer, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kenny Morris, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, Producer, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Fenton, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kenny Morris, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - John Lennon, ComposerLyricist - Paul Mccartney, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Siouxsie And The Banshees, Producer, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1978 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kenny Morris, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, Producer, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kenny Morris, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, Producer, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kenny Morris, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, Producer, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kenny Morris, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, Producer, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kenny Morris, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, Producer, MainArtist - Susan Ballion, ComposerLyricist - John McKay, Guitar, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1978 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
DISC 2
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - MORRIS, ComposerLyricist - Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, Producer, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Siouxsie And The Banshees
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Malcolm Brown, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Fenton, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1977 BBC
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Malcolm Brown, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1977 BBC
Kenny Morris, ComposerLyricist - Malcolm Brown, Producer - Steven Severin, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1977 BBC
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Malcolm Brown, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1977 BBC
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tony Wilson, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 BBC
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tony Wilson, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 BBC
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tony Wilson, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Fenton, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1978 BBC
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Lennon, ComposerLyricist - Paul Mccartney, ComposerLyricist - Tony Wilson, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1978 BBC
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Siouxsie And The Banshees
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Siouxsie And The Banshees
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Siouxsie And The Banshees
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Siouxsie And The Banshees
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nils Stevenson, Producer
℗ 1978 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Kenny Morris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steven Severin, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie And The Banshees, MainArtist - John McKay, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Siouxsie Sioux, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nils Stevenson, Producer
℗ 1979 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Album review
After building up an intense live reputation and a rabid fan base, Siouxsie and the Banshees almost had to debut with a stunner -- which they did, "Hong Kong Garden" taking care of things on the singles front and The Scream on the full-length. Matched with a downright creepy cover and a fair enough early producing effort from Steve Lillywhite -- well before he found gated drum sounds -- it's a fine balance of the early band's talents. Siouxsie Sioux herself shows the distinct, commanding voice and lyrical meditations on fractured lives and situations that would win her well-deserved attention over the years. Compared to the unfocused general subject matter of most of the band's peers, songs like "Jigsaw Feeling," "Suburban Relapse," and especially the barbed contempt of "Mirage" are perfect miniature portraits. John McKay's metallic (but not metal) guitar parts, riffs that never quite resolve into conventional melodies, and the throbbing Steven Severin/Kenny Morris rhythm section distill the Velvet Underground's early propulsion into a crisper punch with more than a hint of glam's tribal rumble. The sheer variety on the album alone is impressive -- "Overground" and its slow-rising build, carefully emphasizing space in between McKay's notes as much as the notes themselves, the death-march Teutonic stomp of "Metal Postcard," the sudden near-sunniness of the music (down to the handclaps!) toward the end of "Carcass." The cover of "Helter Skelter" makes for an unexpected nod to the past -- if it's not as completely overdriven as the original, Siouxsie puts her own definite stamp on it and its sudden conclusion is a great moment of drama. It's the concluding "Switch" that fully demonstrates just how solid the band was then, with McKay's saxophone adding just enough of a droning wild card to the multi-part theatricality of the piece, Siouxsie in particularly fine voice on top of it all.
© Ned Raggett /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 26 track(s)
- Total length: 01:31:23
- Main artists: Siouxsie & The Banshees
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2005 Polydor Ltd. (UK) This Compilation ℗ 2005 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Distinctions:
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